NCAA Bracket Predictions 2012 Friday 2nd Rd

by Matt Foust on Thursday, March 15th, 2012

The 2012 NCAA Tournament is in full swing right now with five games in the books and a host still to be played this evening. Tomorrow also features an exciting slate, particularly in the Midwest Region which did not see any Thursday action. Two of the more storied programs in college basketball and tournament favorites, North Carolina and Kansas, are two Midwest teams set to take the floor on Friday, but the region also serves as home to a few potential Cinderella squads. Among the lower seeds capable of a Sweet 16 appearance are North Carolina State, Belmont, and South Florida. According to the latest NCAA Bracket Predictions only one of those schools (NC State) is expected to win its opening game, though.

Friday 2nd Rd – Upset Watch

No. 5 Temple (-2.5) vs No. 12 South Florida

South Florida is not a name brand program, but this Bulls team brings something to the table as it demonstrated in last night’s 65-54 win over California. Stan heath’s squad, a three point underdog against the Golden Bears, turned up the defensive pressure, limiting Cal to 36.2 percent from the field. The Bulls figure to do the same in tomorrow’s match-up with Temple. South Florida, which ranks seventh in the nation in points per game allowed, possesses just the kind of game that could knock the Owls potent offense out of rhythm. Temple, a team that has faced the likes of Wichita State, Texas, Duke, Saint Louis, Xavier, and St. Bonaventure, will by no means be scared of the Bulls, but they had better respect what they can do on the defensive end of the floor.